OUR TEAM
LEADING THROUGH RESILIENCE
At Black Oaks Center, our leadership is rooted in lived experience and fueled by an unwavering commitment to our communities thriving in the face of economic hardship, climate instability, and resource decline.
LEADERSHIP WITH PURPOSE
Our team members are more than just stewards of the land—we are visionaries working to reshape the future of food security, land sovereignty, and environmental justice. With decades of collective experience in sustainable farming, ecological living, and policy advocacy, we bring practical solutions to the pressing challenges facing Black farmers and rural communities.
A NETWORK OF CHANGEMAKERS
Beyond our core leadership, Black Oaks Center is strengthened by a growing network of local farmers, scholars, environmentalists, and community leaders who share our mission. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, we are creating pathways for the next generation of land stewards, ensuring that Black-owned farmland thrives for years to come.
GUIDED BY RESILIENCE AND ACTION
We believe resilience is built through action. Our team works on the ground, training new farmers, advocating for equitable policies, and developing innovative solutions to sustain both people and the planet. We don’t just teach sustainability—we live it.
LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
At Black Oaks Center, our leadership brings together lived experience, professional expertise, and a deep commitment to building resilient, sustainable communities.
CO-FOUNDERS
Dr. Jifunza Wright-Carter – President
Dr. Wright-Carter co-founded Black Oaks Center, bringing her expertise in holistic health and community resilience to the forefront of our initiatives. A family physician and community health practitioner, Dr. Wright has spent decades prescribing food as medicine, which led her to regenerative, ecological farming. For 14 years she has spearheaded efforts to bring nutrient-dense foods to high-need communities in Chicagoland, including Southern Cook. She is seasoned in plant-based, therapeutic foods and has studied Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, African Healing Systems, herbalism, Macrobiotics, the energetics of food, and raw food preparation. Her family medicine practice, combined with natural healing systems, is woven into her role as a farmer stewarding whole-system health for all life.
Fred Carter – Co-Founder & Executive Director
As co-founder and executive director, Fred Carter leads the strategic vision of Black Oaks Center, focusing on sustainable practices, environmental advocacy, and organizational growth.
Akin Carter – Co-Founder & Farm Manager
Akin Carter manages farm operations, supporting the mission of building food sovereignty through ecological farming practices.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Rachel Lindsey – Board Chair & Resilience Tract Council
Dr. Lindsey chairs the board and contributes expertise in resilience planning and community development.
Dr. Pancho McFarlane – Board Secretary & Sustainable Agriculture Tract
Serving as secretary, Dr. McFarlane also leads sustainable agriculture initiatives, promoting food sovereignty and ecological farming methods.
Dr. Osei David Andrews-Hutchinson – Sustainable Agriculture Tract Council
Dr. Andrews-Hutchinson supports sustainable agriculture efforts, emphasizing the integration of traditional knowledge with modern practices.
Athena Gore – Resilience Tract Council
Ms. Gore contributes to resilience programs, strengthening community networks and adaptive strategies.
Dr. Kim Dulaney – Treasurer & Resilience Tract Council
As treasurer, Dr. Dulaney oversees financial health while supporting resilience-building initiatives.
Ramona Westbrook – BOC Farm Production Team
Ms. Westbrook is integral to the farm production team, implementing sustainable farming techniques that support community food security.
FARM PRODUCTION TEAM
Our dedicated farm production team works tirelessly to implement sustainable farming techniques that align with our mission of promoting food sovereignty and environmental stewardship.
